FBI names new head of Anchorage office

Posted: Thursday, December 02, 2010

By RACHEL D'ORO

ANCHORAGE - A veteran FBI agent whose investigations have ranged from Mexican drug trafficking groups to gangs and violent crimes has been named the new head of the Anchorage division office, the bureau announced Wednesday.

Mary F. Rook, 51, is taking over as special agent in charge in Alaska on Jan. 1. She replaces Kevin Fryslie, who retires Dec. 31.

Special Agent Eric Gonzalez, the agency's Alaska spokesman, said Fryslie's departure has nothing to do with alleged misconduct in the corruption case against the late Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska.

A lawyer familiar with the matter said in November a draft Justice Department report has found two federal prosecutors and FBI agent Mary Beth Kepner engaged in misconduct in Stevens' corruption trial, which was later tossed out.

Fryslie, 56, is retiring ahead of his February birthday, according to Gonzalez.

"He has to," he said. "Mandatory retirement for FBI agents is 57."

Rook began her career with the agency as a serology technician in 1984, then became a special agent assigned to the Milwaukee Division in 1986, according to the FBI.

She later was assigned to the Los Angeles division, where she investigated Mexican drug trafficking organizations and money laundering cases. In 2000, she was appointed as the first Office of Professional Responsibility supervisor in the division.

Other positions include being named as a supervisor of the FBI's Internal Investigation Unit at headquarters and unit chief for OPR's adjudication unit.

More recently, she worked as an assistant special agent in charge out of Helena, Mont., overseeing 15 FBI offices in her native Montana and Idaho. According to the FBI, she also was responsible for investigations involving gangs and violent crimes.

Her latest assignment was in the FBI's training division, where she oversaw programs including international training and leadership development.